Saanich—Gulf Islands is a federal electoral district in British Columbia, Canada, that has been represented in the House of Commons of Canada since 1988. It is named for its geographical location across the Gulf Islands and Saanich Peninsula in the Vancouver Island region.
Demographics + Panethnic groups in Saanich—Gulf Islands (2011−2021)Panethnicgroup202120162011 European 88,690 85,125 85,695 East Asian 8,705 8,175 6,740 Indigenous 4,825 4,675 3,885 South Asian 3,820 3,285 2,350 Southeast Asian 2,345 1,655 1,330 African 860 705 640 Latin American 785 530 490 Middle Eastern 670 440 530 Other 660 530 440 Total responses 111,360 105,110 102,085 Total population 113,541 107,339 104,285
More than 21 percent of Saanich—Gulf Islands' residents are immigrants, and more than 31 percent are older than 65, making this the riding with the third largest senior population in Canada. The riding has a median age of 52.4, making it the riding with the highest median age in Canada. The average family income is $119,500; unemployment is 6.4 percent.
According to the 2021 Canadian census; 2013 representation
Languages: 82.3% English, 2.6% Mandarin, 1.8% Yue, 1.2% French, 1.2% German, 1.2% Punjabi Religions (2021): 35.6% Christian (10.3% Catholic, 6.6% Anglican, 4.6% United Church, 1.3% Baptist, 1.1% Lutheran, 1.0% Presbyterian), 1.7% Sikh, 1.0% Buddhist, 58.3% No religion Median income (2020): $44,400 Average income (2020): $59,550
Geography The riding of Saanich—Gulf Islands consists of the north part of the Municipality of Saanich, as well as the municipalities of Central Saanich, North Saanich, and Sidney on Vancouver Island. The district also includes a number of the southern Gulf Islands, including Salt Spring Island, the Pender Islands, Galiano Island, Mayne Island and Saturna Island. The district's southeastern border runs along the University of Victoria.
History The electoral district was created in 1987 from Esquimalt—Saanich and Cowichan—Malahat—The Islands ridings.
The 2012 federal electoral boundaries redistribution concluded that the electoral boundaries of Saanich—Gulf Islands should be adjusted, and a modified electoral district of the same name will be contested in future elections. The redefined Saanich—Gulf Islands loses a small portion of its current territory in the urbanized portion of Saanich to the new district of Esquimalt—Saanich—Sooke. These new boundaries were legally defined in the 2013 representation order, which came into effect upon the call of the 42nd Canadian federal election, which was held October 19, 2015.
Political geography
Despite the usually close vote between the various right-leaning parties, the Canadian Alliance, Reform and Conservative parties consistently won the district from 1993 to 2011. From 1953 to 2011, the riding and its predecessor, Esquimalt—Saanich, were only won by a non-conservative candidate two times: 1968 by Liberal David Anderson, and in 1988 by New Democrat Lynn Hunter. In each election from 2011 onwards, it has been won by Green party leader Elizabeth May, who in 2015 won every poll-district within the constituency. The 1988 Conservative loss is attributed to vote splitting between the Progressive Conservatives and the new Reform party. Despite a Conservative majority in 2011, the Greens won their very first elected seat here and it went on to become their only stronghold in the country. The peninsular portion of the riding is more competitive, with significant support for all parties except the Liberals. However, the Gulf Islands have probably the strongest Green support in the country, with many voters being environmentally conscious, moderate retirees, as well as a notable artist population. Even with the Green collapse nationally in 2021, May held on with 37%, although it was her lowest voteshare in the riding.
Riding associations
Riding associations are the local branches of political parties:
PartyAssociation namePresidentHQ city Saanich—Gulf Islands Conservative AssociationMichael DickersonCentral SaanichSaanich—Gulf Islands Green Party AssociationThomas NiemannSaanichSaanich—Gulf Islands Federal Liberal AssociationSulochana SaravanabawanSaanichSaanich—Gulf Islands Federal NDP Riding AssociationElroy DeimertSidney
Members of Parliament
This riding has elected the following members of Parliament:
Current member of Parliament As of 2024, the district's member of Parliament is Green Party leader Elizabeth May. She was first elected in 2011 and was the first Green MP to be elected to the House of Commons. She defeated Conservative incumbent and cabinet minister Gary Lunn.
Election results
2021 federal election redistributed results Party Vote % Green 25,136 35.77 Conservative 15,915 22.65 New Democratic 13,738 19.55 Liberal 13,216 18.81 People's 2,115 3.01 Others 156 0.22
2011 federal election redistributed resultsPundits' Guide to Canadian Elections Party Vote % Green 28,993 46.42 Conservative 22,785 36.48 New Democratic 6,898 11.04 Liberal 3,787 6.06
See also List of Canadian electoral districts Historical federal electoral districts of Canada
References
Expenditures – 2000 Expenditures – 1997
Notes
External links
Website of the Parliament of Canada Website of the Conservative Party in Saanich Gulf Islands Website of the Green Party Website of the Liberal Party of Canada in Saanich Gulf Islands Website of the New Democratic Party (NDP) in Saanich Gulf Islands